Bathing suit



June 7, 1938. J. COHEN 2,120,173

BATHING SUIT Filed Jan. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jacob Coke/8 June 7, 1938. J. COHE\N 2,120,173

BA'I'HING SUIT Filed Jan. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1/2605 Coke/z BY ATTORNEY Patented June 7, i938 uiu'rso S'iTES PATENT 'OFFICE 5 ll'ilaims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a bathing suit.

The invention has for an object the construction of a bathing suit characterized by the fact that it has a body portion of one way stretch woven elastic fabric arranged to stretch in the width. When so constructed there is no tendency for the bathing suit to stretch in the length and become deformed.

The invention also proposes to provide a continuation from the body material bent at right angles and arranged to form the crotch of the bathing suit so that it will stretch in the longitudinal direction of the bathing suit. This will prevent the crotch portion from digging into the crotch of a wearer. .Still further the invention proposes to construct the bathing suit of relatively thin woven elastic material which may become semi-transparent when wet, and provide lining material attached to the inner side of the body portion at the bust area, and mammillary organs, at the navel, and groin area to cover these portions of a wearer.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bathing suit constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the body portion of the garment showing particularly the continuation which hereafter is bent at right angles to form the crotch portion.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a bathing suit of modified form embodying the same invention.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal enlarged sectional view taken on the line I l-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line M-M of Fig. 10.

The bathing suit; according to this invention, comprises a body portion H] of one way stretch woven elastic fabric material arranged to stretch along the width of the body portion and continuation portions Ill from the body portion bent at right angles to the body portion to form a crotch which then stretches in the longitudinal' direction of the bathing suit. At the front the body portion i0 is provided with bust portions II which have two or more suitable darts l2 to make them form-fitting, and stretchable horizontally. These bust portionsare lined with material i3 which is secured to the bust inserts I! along arcuate edges N of the body portion ill by elastic and non-elastic stitches. This lining material i3 may be either of the same material as the body fabric or of any other suitable stretchable material.

The upper portions of the bust inserts H are formed with pointed sections I I to which woven or other elastic shoulder straps l3" are attached. These shoulder straps I3 are capable of extending over ones shoulders and pass through loops l4 attached on the top back edge of the body section. This top back edge is' cut low, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The straps I! may be tied together or may be tied to a smooth, non-friction ring 15 which is supported by an elastic loop element i6 attached at the center of the back portion of the body portion. The provision of the stretchable continuation portion l0 and the elastic loop element 16 permits the garment to stretch longitudinally, during bending. The elastic loop and ring arrangement may also be used for loops l4.

Within the bathing suit and between the bust sections H and secured upon the body portion there is non-stretching lining material I]. This non-stretching lining material terminates at a horizontal line H and from this line-downwards there continues additional lining material l8. This lining material 18 is of a similar material to that of the body elastic fabric and is extended only along the front portion of the bathing suit lining materials are depended upon to cover the bust, the navel and other front portions of the wearer's body, that would show a shadow through the unlined material alone.

The free edges of the body portion such as the edges l0 and other edges are finished with stretchable selvage edge stitching or the like. The lining material It may be of the same material as the body portion II, or may be of other stretchable fabric material. Similarly, the lining material l3 may be of fabric material or the same material used to make the body of the bathing suit.

The body portion I0 is formed from three distinct sections. There is a front section Ill which connects at the sides of the garment with a pair of adjacent longitudinal back sections ill. The adjacent edges Iii" of these back sections are cut so that at the lower extremity there is a projecting portion l0. This projecting portion is bent at right angles along the line indicated by reference numeral 20 so that there is a right angle projecting section indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8.

The arrow 2| schematically indicates that the back section lil may stretch in the width only. The arrow 22 indicates that the projection section Ill may now stretch only in the longitudinal direction. When this projection section it) is used to form the crotch-it will be noticed that the crotch will be extendible longitudinally of the body of the bathing suit.

The seam III" is stitched with elastic thread and extends completely around the crotch and terminates at the front portion of the crotch portion. The seam ill" may be of any construction as for example, by having the edges interengaged and sewed down with elastic thread as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Referring again to Fig. 8 it is pointed out that the top side IQ of the portion shown represents the neck opening of the body portion. The side lil is the side which is seamed with the front portion ill. The bottom edge forms a portion of the leg opening at the bottom of the body portion.

In Figs. 9-14 inclusive another form of the invention has been disclosed. According to this form the bathing suit has a body portion III which is connected with a bust portion II. This bust portion distinguishesfrom the prior bust portion in that it is formed from directly connected bust sections. These bust sections have lining material i3 at their inner sides. The body portion III is also provided with lining material I! extended down along the inner face of the front of the body portion. This lining material I! in this particular form of the invention is of stretchable standard cloth material. For this reason along the longitudinal sides it is formed with several folds l8" (see Fig. 13). These folds will open up to permit the body portion to stretch.

Shoulder straps for this bathing suit are indicated by the reference numerals l3. They are adapted to engage through the loop elements l4 mounted on the back of the body portion. They are furthermore adapted to engage through a ring l5 secured on a loop it which is also attached upon the back of the body portion.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous forms and similar parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

It is to be understood that the stitches at certain locations must also be made elastic, by using elastic thread, for the purpose of permitting the garment to stretch.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. In a garment, a trimk comprising a body portion formed of a material adapted to stretch around the body, and a crotch portion composed of two parts extending side by side through the crotch from front to rear and each connected at its front and rear ends to the bodyportion and being adapted to stretch through the crotch from front to rear, the adjacent edges of said crotch parts being overlapped, and an elastic seam securing said overlapping portions together.

2. In a garment, a trunk including front and back portions, said back portion including two back sections secured to each other along one edge to form a central seam, said back sections including body portions formed of a material adapted to stretch around the body, said back sections having at their lower adjacent edges projecting portions extending therefrom substantially in the direction of stretch of the body portions and adapted to stretch in substantially the same direction, said projecting portions having adjacent edges overlapping, an elastic seam securing said overlapping edges together, said projecting portions extending through the crotch from rear to front in the direction of stretch and having their free ends secured to the front of the trunk portion, whereby the material will stretch from front to rear through the crotch.

3. In a garment, a trunk including front and back portions, said back portion including two back sections secured to each other along one edge to form a central seam, said back sections being formed of a material adapted to stretch around the body, said back sections having at their lower adjacent edges integral projecting portions extending therefrom substantially in the direction of stretch, said projecting portions having adjacent edges overlapping. and an elastic seam securing said overlapping edge together, said projecting portions extending through the crotch from rear to front in the direction of stretch and having their free ends secured to the front of the trunk portion, whereby the material will stretch from front to rear through the crotch.

4. In a garment as claimed in claim 1, a loop of elastic material connected to the top of the back and arranged to stretch vertically, a ring mounted on said loop, and shoulder straps connected to the front of the garment and adapted to be secured to said ring.

5. In a garment as claimed in claim 3, a loop of elastic material connected to the top of the back along the line of connection of said back portions and arranged to stretch vertically, a ring mounted on said loop, and shoulder straps connected to the front of the garment and adapted to be secured to said ring.

JACOB COHEN. 

